Reassignment of county librarians has resulted in a new head librarian in Blanding and a new head librarian in Monticello.

Shurrell Meyer, a San Juan County Library employee for seven years, now serves as interim director of the county library system and as the Blanding head librarian.

In the past, Meyer worked four-and-one-half years as the Blanding assistant librarian and two-and-one-half years as the Monticello librarian.

In Monticello, Ricky L. Richardson began work September 10 as the Monticello head librarian. Prior to accepting the position, Richardson served three years as a Monticello part-time assistant librarian.

The 42-year-old brings two “life long” assets to his new job. First, he is a “life-long” county resident.

He did, however, spend five years in the United States Marine Corps serving on operations in Denmark, Africa, Egypt, and Italy He entered the military as a private and exited as a corporal.

Richardson’s second “life long” asset is as a reader.

“I love to read,” he says. “I think of books as friends.”

A graduate of the University of Utah, Richardson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, both of which have technical application in this age of such electronic libraries as the Pioneer web site, an on-line data base available to Monticello library patrons.

Richardson explains, “Pioneer includes newspapers, periodicals, professional journals, medical and health information, and on-line automotive repair manuals. Monticello library patrons also have free access to the Internet for E-mail and research. Internet is free but we do charge a small fee for printing.

“In addition to our electronic library, we have over 18,000 print books, plus videos, DVDs, and audio books on tape and CD. We also offer Inter-Library Loan for which patrons pay a one dollar per book fee for postage.

“For a small town we have an excellent library. I am proud to be associated with it. With the help of my able staff -- Noelle Russell, Krista Keyes, and Betty Palmer – I look forward to serving patrons of the Monticello library. My satisfaction comes from doing the best job I can.”

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